Sunday Morning Coffee - September 4, 2011

Sunday Morning Coffee is politics, religion, gossip, opinion and the other stuff that  makes you crazy(er).  This post reflects my thoughts on a host of current topics and you're welcome to join the conversation by leaving a comment here, heading to Twitter @MichaelLibbie or my personal Facebook Page is right here.  Ready to increase your blood pressure?  Grab a cup and let's go:

Jobs & Economy

On Friday the Labor Department released the latest jobs report and the United States added...ZERO JOBS.   The reason?  Government is busy cutting jobs in this crazy, misguided attempt to please people who know little about our economy.  In the rush to crush the middle class, state and local governments have shed 600,000 jobs in less than two years.  Conservatives will tell you that when government sheds workers the private sector will step in and create jobs.  That has not happened.  And the reason?  If the middle-class isn't buying (because they are jobless, under-employed or too damn tired from working two and three part-time jobs) there is less demand.  If I own a manufacturing company and I see less buying...I cut staff.  Or if I can produce at 80% capacity with 30% less workers and still make money.  What is my incentive to hire people?  None.  The answer:  Put more money into the hands of working Americans.  But that answer will not please the Republicans.   This week President Obama is talking jobs.  Be bold Mr. President.  You already know whatever plan you propose will be attacked and thrown under the bus by Speaker Boehner and his crowd.  Take your message to the people...we're ready.

Tell Me Why...

I've done this before because I'm really interested:  Tell me why/how it is that a Middle-Class family of four making $80,000 a year or less would, for any reason, support the GOP and their friends in the Tea Party?  These people who are stripping away jobs, personal freedoms and the future seem to connect with you.  Why?  Seriously...best and most convincing answer will get a $20 McDonald's coupon so you can take your family out for..."half a meal".  (Hey...it's the recession.)

Dust Up in the Iowa Democratic Party

This past week my friend Sue Dvorsky penned a piece for the Des Moines Register castigating Citizens for Community Improvement (CCI) for their actions during a public forum featuring Senator Chuck "Pull the Plug on Grandma" Grassley.  Mrs. Dvorsky relied entirely, it seems, on this report by Doug Burns of the Daily Times Herald where he calls members of the CCI "Moon Howling Activists".  (Take some time and read the comments section...was Doug at the same event as the witnesses?)  Sue's piece on "civility" then received this reaction from Bleeding Heartland outlining the failures of the Iowa Democratic Party over the past two years.  I tend to agree with some of what BH wrote and said so on my personal Facebook Page adding that "...back in the day we did much more than simply block movement" (which I'm not sure really happened in Carroll County.)  That comment resulted in IDP executive director Norm Sterzenbach taking me to task for "supporting violence".  HUH?  Nope...Norm and Sue what I want you to do is grow some balls.  Is that too aggressive?  Now my blood pressure is up.

A Little Game...

If you would like to have some fun and learn a little on the side...have a look at the game, Guess That Tea Partier from our friends at the IDP.  Hey...I didn't say I was ready to jump ship...just a bit of a difference in...thinking.

A Little Less Hate...

I spent a fantastic 90-minutes with my friend Frank Meeink talking about...hate.  Actually, we talked at length about his latest project Life After Hate.  For those of you who have not met "Frankie"...you need to pay attention to this former Neo-Nazi who hated with such a passion he was kicked out of the KKK for being "too radical".  His book, The Autobiography of a Recovering Skinhead the Story of Frank Meeink is a riveting story about youth gone...very bad and how hating was his way of coping.  Until, "...a Jewish guy who hired me broke all the stereotypes I believed and it got me wondering if I was wrong."   The book has brought him success with a new TV series on A&E which they start shooting next month.  He is a tough guy that can talk about spirituality and say F**K in the same...sentence.  Here is a clip of interviews from Katie Couric to Hard Copy.

 

Bottom line...if you are interested make a connection. He's very good!

Busted In West Des Moines

Late Friday afternoon I was in Beverly Hills...errr...ah...West Des Moines getting some kosher meat at Trader Joes.  (BTW:  Not a big selection...but best in the city...fresh...not frozen!)  I'm in wearing sunglasses (nobody will notice me) and in a hurry because my visa expires at 5:30PM.  All of a sudden a gray vehicle with darkened windows rolls up next to me and a guy says, "What are you doing here?"  Busted by my friend Jeff Bratz who knows I like to chide my WDM friends as being a bit...snobby.  He promised he wouldn't tell many people.

Three Little Words...

I've got several "liberal" friends out there that just don't seem to understand my frustration regarding the Middle East and the belligerent attitude of the world  toward Israel.  Israel is a county about the size of the western 1/3 of Iowa...that's pretty small.  There are about 6 million folks living there who are under the constant threat of murder at the hands of people who have vowed to destroy them and the Jewish State.  Several years ago Israel, in a gesture of "good will" gave these murderous thugs some land called the Gaza Strip.  The Gaza, under Israeli control, was an agricultural marvel exporting all sorts of fruits and vegetables to the region.   In the area called Gush Katif the Israeli Army forcibly removed removed all the Jews, destroyed their homes but left the schools, factories and agricultural greenhouses stand.  The "victorious Arabs", who then moved into the area, promptly destroyed them and the cities have become wastelands.  Within a few weeks the Gaza became a launching pad for thousands of rocket attacks aimed at population centers of Israel.  It is where Hamas has held IDF soldier Gilad Shalit for over five years without allowing anyone, including the International Red Cross, to access his situation....or even if he is still alive.  It could all be over if the Mahmoud Abbas would say, "We recognize Israel." but just last week he vowed to never utter those words.  So, my liberal friends...with whom do we "negotiate" and what do we negotiate...with? Your turn...

Kodak

I recently purchased a new compact video camera for my work.  While I love my Flip my friends at Cisco have ceased making them and I fear support will also go away.  My choices were limited because I wanted one that had the ability to have an external microphone.  I ended up with a Kodak Play Touch and loads of stuff on my computer that I didn't want, need or ask for.  Seems that Kodak has agreements with just about everybody who is interested in invading your PC or Mac with...stuff and it's taken me some time to clean my hard-drive.  Kodak...that...sucks.  

Gotta Go...Bathroom Project

No...not THAT!  I'm on another bathroom project today.  The "facility" in my office has been "under repair" for the past several months and today I'll finish the floor and shower.  That's the plan...I'll let you know.  Thanks for reading and if you want to connect...feel free.  Have a fantastic Sunday and a great Labor Day Weekend...if you can find a job. - Michael